US auto sales growth slowed in July

A worker installs tires on a 2014 Jeep Wrangler as it undergoes assembly at the Chrysler Toledo North Assembly Plant, May 7, 2014 in Toledo, Ohio.

U.S. auto sales growth slowed a bit in July, with healthy gains from some manufacturers falling short of expectations, according to early returns from the major carmakers on Friday.

Ford reported a gain of 10 percent to 212,236 vehicles, slightly beating the analysts' average estimate of 9 percent. General Motors said July sales were up 9 percent at 256,160, missing expectations of 11 percent.

Nissan Motor and Chrysler also failed to sell as many cars and trucks in July as analysts had expected.

Toyota Motor said on Friday that its July U.S. sales rose 12 percent to 215,802 vehicles, topping expectations and finishing above Ford in sales volumes.

Nine analysts surveyed by Reuters expect an 11 percent increase in sales for the industry in July. Growth is expected to show a slight dip to a 16.7 million annualized rate from 17 million in June, according to economists polled by Thomson Reuters.

Gains in U.S. auto sales have been stronger than the overall economy since the recession. Still, the monthly figures provide an early glimpse into consumer spending.

Auto sales dropped to a low of 10.4 million vehicles in 2009 and have risen steadily since, reaching 15.6 million last year. They are on a pace for about 16.4 million this year, in part because of easier credit and loans of up to 84 months.

On Friday in Turin, Italy, where Chrysler parent Fiat is headquartered for now, shareholders are expected to approve a merger that will create Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, to be registered in the Netherlands. Fiat has relied on the resurgence of Chrysler in North America since the No. 3 U.S. automaker's 2009 government-sponsored bankruptcy as Europe's auto sales flagged.

Sales of Chrysler's Jeep SUV brand, which Fiat Chrysler sees as a linchpin in its global growth, rose 41 percent in July.